It’s serious business, this handling and showing of alpacas. They’re judged on their looks and their composure — or was it composition, I’m forgetting the exact term — and their fiber, don’t be calling it wool. There’s a handling component too — an alpaca obstacle course to complete in which the alpaca’s human must lead the alpaca through a series of activities: jumping a bail of hay, making a muddy, wet crossing (that one alpaca, a bit of a princess, resisted getting her feet wet), waddling through an array of tires, and more. An alpaca can cost 6000 dollars or 26000 dollars. Or you can arrange for a one night stand with an alpaca –that’s none of my business, really, but you should know the price — for something like 1500 dollars.
Unexplored subcultures make for great close to home diversions when you can’t get away. There are customs to learn, an unknown language, a landscape to navigate. (If you’re in alpaca-land, it’s all about the humming and the hairstyles.) It’s especially fun to bring along some friends who are interested, like you, in taking a look at stuff you all know nothing about. Bonus points if, when faced with the idea of several barns full of alpacas, your friends come up with this: “I’m going to hug EVERYTHING!”
Alpacapalooza is on for one more day ONLY, so hurry down to Puyallup to get your fix. And if you just want alpaca pics, ours are here.
how much does a hug cost? I’ve never seen “domesticated” ones, and the wild ones don’t seem terribly affectionate.
Also, you didn’t describe the smell. Stinkariffic or just a little gamey?
The hugging was totally free, but the alpacas? A little standoffish, really. Some were more social than others, but mostly, they were kinda skittish around humans not their own.
And remember, this was a show event, so while the alpacas might have a little hay stuck on them here and there, they’d been freshly laundered. One of our companions suggested that some of them might have even been wearing hair spray.
ah, I like your outlook about local, unexplored subcultures. That’s exactly how we discovered alpacas 5 yrs ago, while on an afternoon motorcycle ride. That experience was so momentous that now we’ve picked up and moved 1500 miles to a 17-acre farm in Oregon where we care for a herd of 35 of the amazing fuzzy creatures. Addicted to them, yes. Loving this rural life after years of wrangling software and websites, yes. It helps that I love animals, and love to knit and spin.
Showrings are a whole ‘nother world though — the ‘pacas a bit nervous about being away from home and penned up. They’re termed ‘pasture ready’ so no brushing or shampooing allowed.
Find a farm near you and go visit them in a more natural setting — there’s a lot of great ones near Seattle. Enjoy!
We went to a “Llama Fest” when we spotted it out in Vermont (although the fest also included alpacas).
I just loved the expressions on their faces, and Tim had to literally drag me away from the festivities as the llamas and alpacas went through their paces in the show rings (I’m thinking he tried bribing me with some ice cream from the nearby Ben & Jerry’s factory because we -really- had to get on the road).
You see the occasional alpaca or llama “farm” around here, but I haven’t seen any shows around Detroit.
Love your pics. Thanks for sharing!